As Cal contemplates its many possible bowl destinations - anywhere from El Paso or San Francisco to San Diego or Las Vegas - it does so without tailback Jahvid Best anywhere close to returning to action.

More than three weeks removed from his scary fall Nov. 7, which left him with a severe concussion and lingering back pain, Best still hasn't rejoined practice. He missed Tuesday's session at Memorial Stadium, as his teammates began to prepare in earnest for Saturday's regular-season finale at Washington, because he was in Pittsburgh to visit a concussion specialist.

Best will not play against the Huskies, coach Jeff Tedford said in his weekly news conference. That will mark the third consecutive game Best has missed since he hurdled high into the air against Oregon State, got pushed higher and landed awkwardly on his upper back.

It also raises the distinct possibility that Best's season, and maybe his Cal career, is over. Best, a junior, has said he will decide after the season whether to enter the NFL draft in April.

He had hoped to return for Saturday's game: When he spoke to reporters for the first time after his injury, on Nov. 18, he indicated he "expected" to play against Washington. But the back pain has persisted, and Cal understandably is proceeding cautiously in the aftermath of Best's second concussion this season.

He also sustained a mild one Oct. 31 against Arizona State. The visit to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was scheduled so Dr. Michael Collins can evaluate Best's condition.

"Jahvid hasn't had any symptoms for a couple of weeks, but we're making sure he's 100 percent completely clear," Tedford said Tuesday. "... His back is still a problem."

Best still could return for Cal's bowl game, which will take place from Dec. 22 to Dec. 31. That means he will have had between six and eight weeks to recover from the second concussion.

As this subplot unfolds in the background, the Bears (8-3 overall, 5-3 in Pac-10 play) eye a game with abundant postseason implications. They could finish the regular season as high as tied for second in the conference standings, or as low as tied for fifth.

Their landing spot will then determine their bowl game. There are five possibilities - the Holiday Bowl, Sun Bowl, Emerald Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl - though the Sun and Emerald count as the most likely scenarios.

If the Bears beat Washington (4-7, 3-5), they will finish no worse than tied for third in the Pac-10. That could put them in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas. Cal is the only Pac-10 team to never play in the Sun Bowl.

If the Bears lose to Washington - or if they win and the Sun Bowl chooses one of the other teams in a third-place tie (think USC) - they could slide to the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 26 in San Francisco. Cal beat Miami in last year's Emerald Bowl.

Most Cal players are trying to sidestep all this conjecture - "that stuff is pretty complicated," linebacker Mike Mohamed said - but they're finding motivation in the chance to reach 10 wins.

"This team is just focused on winning games - the standings are really out of our control," fullback Brian Holley said. "We really want to have 10 wins this season. Coach Tedford has brought it up to us, and that's a big accomplishment to get that ninth and 10th win. That's our focus."

Briefly: Cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson (sprained ankle) didn't practice Tuesday, but he's expected to play Saturday. ... Tedford said Giorgio Tavecchio's struggles in pregame warm-ups led to Vince D'Amato handling field goals and extra points in the Big Game. The competition for the kicking job remains open.